Chapter 27 - I Don't Want Moutai, I Only Want Ice Crystal Cake!

Chapter 27 I Don’t Want Moutai, I Only Want Ice Crystal Cake!

Shen Hongda and Chen Dahai were long-time friends. They have always been informal with each other.

When Chen Dahai asked for a favor, Shen Hongda tossed the few boxes of unknown pastries on the coffee table to him, brushing him off. These two boxes of pastries seemed to have been taken from the car by the driver. They were brought by a little guy.

Looking at the packaging, they appeared to be the kind bought from the street, possibly something kids would enjoy. Chen Dahai picked up a box of ice crystal cake with disdain, glared at Shen Hongda, and said, “Good one, Lao Shen, are you just going to send me off with these two lousy cakes?”

“From abroad, huh? Trying to fool kids!”

“This is definitely from the street.”

“Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and get that treasured Moutai of yours. I’m taking a bottle.”

As soon as Shen Hongda heard that Chen Dahai wanted his treasured Moutai, he immediately retorted.

“What nonsense! This isn’t from the street, it’s exquisite pastries made by a renowned pastry chef from abroad.”

“That pastry chef has been featured in foreign magazines, and I wouldn’t even give this to anyone else, you don’t believe me? Just try it!”

Chen Dahai was taken aback, looking at Shen Hongda with suspicion.

“Really? Then let me try.”

Shen Hongda felt a little guilty and laughed, saying, “Well… try it at home, it’s so late, you should head back. I’ll treat you to dinner another time.”

Seeing Shen Hongda’s expression, Chen Dahai understood he was being deceived. He sneered and said, “No, I’m trying it now.”

“I want to see how good this so-called pastry made by a renowned foreign pastry chef can be.”

“Then… go ahead and try it.”

Shen Hongda kept his expression unchanged but felt a bit uneasy inside. Chen Dahai opened the plastic box, revealing five crystal-clear ice crystal cakes.

“Hmm… they do look quite delicate.”

“But… these pastries usually look pretty, but they taste just average, overly sweet.”

Chen Dahai glanced at Shen Hongda and asked, “Lao Shen, are you sure this is Western pastry?”

“I swear it looks more like a Chinese pastry, it resembles osmanthus cake a bit.”

Shen Hongda looked at the ice crystal cakes in the box and impatiently said, “Who cares if it’s Western or Chinese, as long as it’s good!”

“Alright, I’ll give it a try. If it’s not good, I’m definitely taking a bottle of your Moutai.”

After saying that, Chen Dahai picked up a piece of ice crystal cake and took a bite. Shen Hongda didn’t want to part with his cherished Moutai.

If Chen Dahai said it wasn’t good, he’d just claim that everyone has different tastes and that Chen Dahai was too picky. Those foreigners really love these pastries.

Yeah, that’ll work. Chen Dahai chewed and swallowed. Then, surprise lit up his eyes. “Hmm, it’s really delicious!”

Chen Dahai praised sincerely,

“Lao Shen, you’ve got good taste, this pastry is indeed a rare delicacy.”

“I’ve never had such a delicious pastry in my life!”

“Lao Shen, what’s the name of this pastry?”

“Hmm? This pastry is called…”

Shen Hongda couldn’t answer right away and countered, “Is it really good?”

Chen Dahai took another bite of the ice crystal cake, his face full of joy and enjoyment.

“What? You haven’t tried it yourself?” Sёarch* The NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Not yet, I gave it to you before I could.”

“Come on, let me try a piece.”

Chen Dahai hurriedly gathered the two boxes of ice crystal cakes.

“Didn’t you just give them to me? Why are you eating them?”

Shen Hongda was taken aback, raising an eyebrow.

“Why so stingy? I gave these to you!”

“Once you give them to me, they’re mine!”

“Not giving them to you!”

“Not giving? Then I won’t help you with that matter!”

…

The two old men, both over a hundred years old combined, started arguing over two boxes of ice crystal cakes.

Jiang Qin heard the commotion and came downstairs.

“You two, keep it down. Yao Yao just fell asleep watching cartoons.”

Shen Hongda took a bite of the ice crystal cake and waved to Jiang Qin.

“Wife, come and try this pastry, it’s really delicious.”

Chen Dahai hid one of the boxes of ice crystal cakes in his arms, warily saying, “This box I must take with me. Lao Shen, you promised me you’d bring two more boxes tomorrow.”

Shen Hongda ignored Chen Dahai and had Jiang Qin try a piece of the ice crystal cake.

After tasting it, Jiang Qin’s eyes lit up as she nodded.

“What is this? It tastes really good, better than any pastries I’ve ever had!”

Chen Dahai raised an eyebrow.

“What? You two don’t even know what it is? Where did these two boxes come from?”

“Lao Shen, tell me you’ll bring me two more boxes tomorrow. I’ll share one with you.”

“You think you know nothing, saying you’ll bring me two more boxes tomorrow is just to fool me?”

“Who’s fooling you? Just wait until tomorrow,” Shen Hongda replied.

“Alright, it’s settled then. We’re all people of status, so we can’t go back on our word.”

“Okay, stop talking nonsense.”

Shen Hongda dismissed Chen Dahai and then called over the driver.

“Old Zhong, where did you get those two boxes of pastries from the car?”

Shen Hongda assumed they were bought from a roadside vendor while picking up Yao Yao.

“Oh, Chairman, when I picked up your granddaughter this morning, your son-in-law asked me to bring them.”

“Lu Qin?” Shen Hongda paused for a moment.

“Yes, it seems he made them himself, called ice crystal cake. There were a total of four boxes—two for you, one for Ms. Shen, and one for your granddaughter to eat on the way.”

Jiang Qin was surprised.

“I didn’t expect Lu Qin to have this kind of skill!”

Shen Hongda was also quite astonished. Having lived most of his life, he had tasted countless delicacies, including pastries made by famous chefs. However, this ice crystal cake was better and more unique than any pastry he had ever tried.

To make such exquisite ice crystal cakes wasn’t just an ordinary skill.

Shen Hongda sighed.

“Little Lu is really thoughtful.”

At first, he thought the unassuming packaging was from some small roadside stall. It turned out Lu Qin had made them himself. This was his heartfelt intention.

Despite the simple packaging, given the flavor of the ice crystal cake, it could stand out anywhere. The fact that Chen Dahai would forgo his Moutai for the ice crystal cake said it all.

“Alright, Old Zhong, you can take a break now.”

After the driver left, Shen Hongda and Jiang Qin sat on the sofa, and the plastic box in front of them was already empty.

The couple had only eaten one piece of the ice crystal cake each. That was hardly satisfying. They were reminiscing about the delightful taste of the ice crystal cake. It was sweet but not cloying, soft and chewy.

After chewing, there was a particularly rich flavor. Pastries of such quality were hard to come by.

“Does Xiao Yan know that Lu Qin has this kind of skill?” Jiang Qin asked.

(ED Note: Xiao Yan is a nickname of Shen Muyan)

Shen Hongda shook his head.

“She definitely doesn’t know, that girl only knows work and doesn’t care about her husband or daughter at all.”

“I’ve mentioned it several times before she got divorced, but it was no use.”

“Look at her now, such a good son-in-law has left, where can she find another man like him?”

Jiang Qin agreed wholeheartedly.

“Indeed, Lu Qin voluntarily quit his job to stay at home and take care of Yao Yao. Yao Yao is so well-behaved and understanding, thanks to Lu Qin’s upbringing.”

Shen Hongda sighed.

“We’ve treated Little Lu unfairly.”

The couple fell silent for a moment.

“Wife, do you still want to eat the ice crystal cake?” Shen Hongda suddenly asked.

“Of course I want to, I only had one piece earlier, and I’m still craving it.”

“I’ll ask Xiao Yan to tell Lu Qin to make a few boxes of ice crystal cake for us.” Shen Hongda replied.

“I’ve already promised Chen Dahai two boxes.”

Jiang Qin expressed her concerns.

“Now that they’re both divorced, Xiao Yan might find it awkward to bring it up.”

“Let her figure it out, that’s an order!”

With that, Shen Hongda dialed Shen Muyan’s phone.

……